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Shortstop Ashley Paul applies a tag on a CMS baserunner during the Leopards' 4-0 win over the Athenas (Jeff Stapleton, ETBU Sports)Leopards Top CMS, Fall To Louisiana College To Conclude West Regional action
The University of La Verne softball team saw its season come to an end Friday night as Louisiana College scored the game-winning run on a Leopard throwing error in the sixth inning Friday, allowing the Lady Wildcats to survive and advance with a 2-1 victory in an elimination game at Taylor Field in Marshall, Texas on the campus of East Texas Baptist University.
Earlier in the day, La Verne pitchers Sabrina Garcia and Delaney Baylor combined on a two-hitter to lead the Leopards to a 4-0 victory over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The game was the seventh contest between the two SCIAC schools as the Leos earned a 4-3 edge in the season series.
Garcia (8-4) throttled the Athenas on a one-hitter, striking out
one and walking four. Baylor came on to toss the final two innings,
allowing just one hit and two strikeouts to record the save. Lynsey
Padilla's RBI single to center in the first inning proved to be
enough for the Leopards, who advanced to another elimination game
later Friday against the loser of ETBU and Louisiana College.
Ashley Paul, Daryn Schively and Mandy Brenner drove in runs for the
Leopards in the victory.
In the rematch against Louisiana College, the score was tied 1-1 in the sixth when Jodi Montagnino started the game-winning rally with a bunt single to third leading off the inning. Montagnino scored all the way from first on a Leopard throw past first base on a grounder with what would be the winning run.
La Verne took a 1-0 lead on Kari Granger's RBI single to left
that scored D.D. Burns in the third inning. But the Lady
Wildcats tied the game in the when McCaslin Carson legged out an
infield single with two outs, allowing Caitlyn Bankston to score an
unearned run.
Rene' Schwartzenburg (14-0) tossed the final four innings, allowing
one hit and just two walks to earn the win.
Baylor (16-8) was saddled with the loss for La Verne, tossing the
complete-game five-hitter with three strikeouts.
La Verne concludes the season at 29-17 and says goodbye to seniors Melissa Carlson, Lynsey Padilla, Kari Granger and Ashley Meneely.
